Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2440/23865
Citations
Scopus Web of Science® Altmetric
?
?
Type: Journal article
Title: Variance components for birth and carcass traits of crossbred cattle
Author: Pitchford, W.
Mirzaei, H.
Deland, M.
Afolayan, R.
Rutley, D.
Verbyla, A.
Citation: Animal Production Science, 2006; 46(2):225-231
Publisher: C S I R O Publishing
Issue Date: 2006
ISSN: 0816-1089
Abstract: During a 4-year period (1994–97) of the Australian ‘Southern Crossbreeding Project’, mature Hereford cows (n = 637) were mated to 97 sires from 7 breeds (Jersey, Wagyu, Angus, Hereford, South Devon, Limousin and Belgian Blue), resulting in 1334 calves. Heifers were slaughtered at around 16 months and steers at 23 months. The objective of the study was to quantify between- and within-breed genetic variation for numerous production and quality traits in a southern-Australian production system. Calf survival, birth weight and carcass production traits (carcass weight, fat depth, loin eye area, intramuscular fat) were obtained from these cattle. The carcass traits were log{e}-transformed because of a scale effect on the variance. Data were analysed using multi-variate animal models containing fixed effects of sex with random effects of management group, sire breed and animal. In addition, birth month and age of dam were included as fixed effects for birth weight. Covariances between survival and other traits could not be estimated from the multi-variate model so they were estimated from a series of bi-variate models. On average, management group and sire breed accounted for similar proportions of variance. Heritability ranged from 0.14 (survival), 0.17 (intramuscular fat), 0.28 (loin eye area), 0.29 (P8 fat depth), 0.31 (birth weight) to 0.50 (carcass weight). In general, environmental (management and residual) correlations between meat (carcass weight and loin eye area) and fat traits (fat depth and intramuscular fat) were positive, but the genetic correlations (both between and within breed) were negative. Management and genetic (co)variation has been quantified and can facilitate production of calves with carcasses suitable for specific market requirements.
Keywords: Covariance
Beef cattle
Carcass quality
Heritability
Survival
Birth weight
DOI: 10.1071/EA05248
Published version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea05248
Appears in Collections:Agriculture, Food and Wine publications
Aurora harvest 2

Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.